Ex-teen Addict Agrees To Plea

Prosecution Drops Murder Charges

June 23, 2004|By KEN BYRON; Courant Staff Writer

NEW BRITAIN — Ashley Chicerchia, the former teenage prostitute and crack addict who helped organize and execute a robbery in which a Turkish immigrant was killed, pleaded guilty Tuesday to robbery conspiracy.

Chicerchia, who has been in jail for nearly three years, entered her plea in New Britain Superior Court and may be released immediately after her sentencing next month.

The felony murder charges in the case are to be dropped in return for her guilty plea and for testifying against her co-defendants.

Brian Preleski, assistant state's attorney, said Tuesday in court that the man who committed the killing, Eric Kelsey, was convicted last year with the help of Chicerchia's testimony.

``The defendant has cooperated fully and completely and at great personal risk to herself,'' Preleski said.

Chicerchia began cooperating with police and prosecutors within 24 hours after 27-year-old Omar Celik was killed in August 2001, Preleski said.

Chicerchia said hardly anything Tueday when she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit second-degree robbery. She will be sentenced Aug. 26.

Her plea bargain calls for a seven-year sentence that would be suspended after she serves three years. But the judge can also suspend the sentence immediately in return for the time Chicerchia has served. She was arrested August 2001 and has been incarcerated since.

Kelsey is serving a 40-year sentence. Hector Fermaint and Juan Morales were also arrested in the case.

Fermaint pleaded guilty this month to conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary. He is expected to be sentenced to eight years July 6. Morales is due in court Thursday.

Chicerchia testified during trials this year and in 2003 that she had the idea of robbing Celik's roommate and planned it with Fermaint, Kelsey and Morales. On the evening of Aug. 15, 2001, she visited Celik's apartment and persuaded him to leave the door open. The three men then barged into the apartment and started beating Celik. Chicerchia testified that Kelsey then stabbed Celik. All four left the apartment without stealing anything.

Celik, who was 27, had been in the U.S. only a few months. He was working at a diner in the city and saving money for his wife and young son, who live in Turkey.